USA > Illinois > History of the Ninety-sixth Regiment, Illinois volunteer Infantry, Vol. I > Part 30
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THE dawn of Monday, May 16, found the Rebel breast- works at Resaca deserted. The gain in position made by the Union forces during the two days of fighting and maneu- vering, coupled with the fact that part of Gen. McPherson's army had succeeded in laying pontoon bridges some distance below, and thereby gained a foothold upon the south bank of the river, from which a considerable force of the enemy had tried in vain to dislodge them, had decided Gen. Johnston that his only safety lay in immediate retreat. He took hope in the thought that Gen. Sherman's army was dependent upon a single line of railroad for the immense supplies upon which it must subsist, and that while his own army was gaining in numbers as it fell back by the gathering in of con- scripts and the addition of the detachments heretofore re- quired to garrison the posts past which he retreated, the Union forces suffered a corresponding loss as Regiments or Brigades were dropped out by the way to guard towns and bridges. Then, too, he was well aware of the fact that the time of the non-veterans from many of the Regiments recruited in 1861 would soon expire, and that with their re- tirement the Union army would suffer serious loss. Doubt- less it was with regret that he abandoned the strong positions at Dalton and Resaca : but hope was strong that when the forces of Gen. Sherman had been drawn far from their base
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of supplies and become weakened by losses from sickness and the other causes mentioned, he would be able, by a bold flank movement, or a cavalry raid which should successfully cut the railroad toward Chattanooga, to compel the army con- fronting him to abandon offensive operations and fall back to the line of the Tennessee river for their own protection. The rank and file of the Rebel army were made to believe that Gen. Johnston was merely drawing Gen. Sherman on, and that when he "got him where he wanted him " he would drive off, in dire confusion, such of his army as he did not capture or destroy. But in this hope they were doomed to bitter disappointment, as their bold movement, -which was only to be made after Atlanta had fallen, and under another leader than Gen. Johnston, -was to be as disastrous as it was brilliant.
On the morning named the troops were " bugled " out at an early hour, and speedily learned from the pickets that there had been no response to their occasional firing for some hours. Many of the Regiment at once started out to recon- noitre the immediate vicinity, especially desiring to go through the thicket where they had met the enemy on Satur- day evening, and from which they had been forced to beat so hasty a retreat, their main purpose being to obtain some trace of missing comrades. The bodies of a portion of the dead were found, and from a few Rebels who had been left on picket or who had overslept and were made prisoners by these adventurous men, it was definitely ascertained that Rose, Lewin and Ayers had been captured unharmed. Cor- poral Rose was at the time wearing a light blue jacket, made from an overcoat, and his chevrons were of a darker material. This peculiarity of dress, together with his heavy, sandy monstache, made his identification complete, while that of the others mentioned was hardly less so. There were others captured, they said, but they could not describe them so as to make it certain that they were from the Regiment.
The Regimental Pioneers, under Lientenant Burnett. of Company B, were detailed to bury the dead left upon the battle-field, and spent the greater part of two days at this
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sad labor. Details from other commands assisted in the work.
At eiglit o'clock the dispositions for pursuit were com- pleted and the command moved out. The route of the Reg- iment lay near the ground over which the charges of the day before had been made, and revealed many interesting scenes. The Rebel earthworks were found to be of great strength, and two or more lines deep, so that should one be lost the troops would have to fall back but a few rods before they could again have protection. The trees and bushes were barked and slivered in a manner to indicate that the Federal fire had been terrific, especially at the point where the four pieces of artillery had been captured.
In the forward movement the Fourth Corps led the way to the little hamlet of Resaca, nearly three miles from the left of the main battle-field. The Fourteenth Corps, -except one Division which had been sent toward Rome in support of Garrard's cavalry, -followed. The Twentieth and Twenty- third Corps crossed the river at the left, and Gen. McPher- son's forces at Lay's Ferry, at the right: Arrived at Resaca, some hours were occupied in repairing the partially destroyed bridge, those of the troops not actively engaged in this work resting in the shade of the timber beside the road. While in this position a scout rode along and, enquiring for the NINETY-SIXTH, reported that three of their men, all wounded. were in a building a short distance away. An ambulance was secured, and Lieutenant-Colonel Smith, accompanied by a few men, went in the direction indicated and soon returned with First Sergeant Thomas J. Smith, of Company I; Richard Spencer, of Company F; and Lewis Miller, of Company G ; all of whom were wounded and captured two days before. They were halted at the Regiment for a little time, and then taken to the village and placed in hospitals that were just being established. Smith and Miller did not long survive. but Spencer recovered after some months. Their captors had taken their watches and blankets, but they reported having received every possible kindness from the ladies at whose
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house they had been left, notwithstanding the fact that their sympathies were wholly with the South.
In the haste of leaving, the Rebels abandoned a larg .. amount of meal, a quantity of muskets and other materia !. It may be said. however, that the retreat was well managed, for the trophies were not numerous considering the amount of material that had to be removed. A few prisoners were cap- tured at the crossings of the river, but no more than are to be found in rear of any hurriedly moved army where retreat is made at night.
Between four and five o'clock in the afternoon the Fourth Corps crossed the Oostenaula and marched southward on roads nearly parallel to the railroad, camping for the night not far from Calhoun. The 115th Illinois, which had been brigaded with the NINETY-SIXTH almost from its organization. was temporarily detached and left to guard Resaca and other points near by, and did not again join the Brigade until Octo- ber.
Tuesday, May 17, the bugles sounded reveille at three o'clock A. M., and as soon as breakfasts were dispatched the advance begun. Calhoun was passed early in the forenoou, the troops of the First Division marching in column of com- panies, with drums beating and flags waving. The Second Division had the advance. The skirmishing, which had been lively all day, grew in volume as the afternoon wore away. The First Division moved up to the support of the Second under a heavy artillery fire, and became engaged just as night came on. The Regiment found a strong line of entrench- ments in its immediate front, filled with resolute foes, but no move was made looking to their dislodgement that night. Notwithstanding the heavy firing and the frequent casualties all along the line, the Regiment was so fortunate as to suffer no loss. A heavy line of works was built, the command working far into the night in making its position secure against assault. Some houses in front of the line, which had afforded protection to the sharp-shooters of the enemy, were set on fire and burned to the ground, the flames lighting up the camps during the early evening. The Rebel position wa-
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a strong one, but as Gen. McPherson was pressing on their Mit flank, and Gen. Schofield on their right, they again re- treated under cover of the darkness.
Wednesday, May 18, there was the usual early reveille and the orders were renewed to "press the enemy." The officers of the command were in trouble about the matter of rations for themselves, but the enlisted inen had a supply and offered to divide. The troops moved forward in column, with skirmishers in front, the enemy harassing them to the utmost of their ability. The First Division being in rear made a slow march until toward night, passing Adairsville during the afternoon, and was then hurried past the other troops of the Corps to the extreme front, going into bivouac- in the immediate vicinity of the enemy at eight o'clock, with a strong picket line in advance. There was some skirmishing as the position was reached but nothing serious resulted. Sonthern newspapers were found at some of the houses in the vicinity, in which were violent criticisms of Gen. Johnston for his course in falling back, and also strong arguments in favor of his plans. It was asserted that there would be a decisive battle near Cassville, toward which Gen. Sherman was moving, and leading officers on either side confidently expected, as they lay down to rest that night, that the next day would see the engagement inaugurated.
Thursday, May 19, found the army in motion at sunrise, Gen. Sherman directing that the enemy be pushed at all points, and forced to give battle north of the Etowah River If possible. The Second Brigade had the lead, and the NINETY-SIXTH was in the advance of the column which had marched most directly along the railroad. In less than half an hour after the start was made the Rebels were encountered. One company after another was sent upon the skirmish line until a considerable part of the command was deployed. At Kingston-the junction of the Rome branch with the main line of railroad from Chattanooga-the Rebels opened on the advance, with a battery, but the skirmishers, after strongly pushing at the front, pressed past it on the flank, compelling it to withdraw. The skirmishing was so severe as to approach
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the dignity of a battle. The order being to follow near the railroad, the line swung to the left and pressed rapidly for- ward. The Rebels halted at every ridge and road, making strong resistance and compelling the Regiment to keep up a heavy fire. The bullets cut wickedly through the line, but the men responded gallantly to every call to advance, some- times charging at a run and driving the enemy from their hiding places behind the trees and fences, and again moving through hollows or ravines and flanking them out. The day was an exceedingly hot one, and all suffered greatly ; Willian: Marble, of Company B, sustained a partial sunstroke. Mile after mile the chase continued. With a stubbornness that betokened heavy work ahead, the men in gray took their places behind every obstacle that afforded protection, only to be compelled to retire by the ever pressing line of blue. At last. heated almost to the melting point, and so thoroughly exhausted that all felt that they could not much longer keep up the severe work demanded of them, the Regiment emerged from the timber upon an eminence overlooking a beautiful. open field. The enemy's skirmishers had mainly made their way to right and left through the timber, and for an instant the impression prevailed that there was no obstruction in front save a few badly demoralized skirmishers who were running as rapidly as possible across the field, their speed accelerated by the bullets sent after them by their weary followers. But no ! A second glance confirmed every man in the belief that the predicted decisive battle was at hand. Away off across the comparatively level field stretched long lines of moving men. The first thought was that it might be Gen. Schofield or Gen. Hooker. as they were known to have been nearer that point the day before than Gen. Howard. Officers raised their field glasses and looked at the mighty host and announced that the men were dressed in gray. It was the Rebel army. and at least a full Corps were in plain sight, marching directly toward the Union lines. A cloud of skirmishers covered their front, and batteries of artillery distributed along the line indicated the termination of each brigade. Mounted officer- rode in front of each battalion, and groups of horsemen desig-
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nated the positions of the Generals and their Staff's. Regi- mental colors could be dimly seen, and the lines seemed as perfectly formed and as evenly marched as though they were out for a holiday parade. Never, except when they stood upon Lookout Mountain on that clear November day in 1863, and watched the battle of Missionary Ridge, had the men of the NINETY-SIXTH seen a panorama so magnificent ; and even then the distance was so great as to make objects much less distinct than at this time. Indeed, it is doubtful if anywhere during the war except when Pickett's Division made their brilliant but fatal charge at Gettysburg, or when Gen. Hood moved across the level plain at Franklin, were there so many of the Rebel army so magnificently marshalled in plain view of their opponents as in what military writers denominate " The Affair at Cassville."
The men of the NINETY-SIXTH, with others along the line, stood for a moment as if entranced. True the advancing lines were a long distance off-probably a mile and a half-but the space could be quickly passed by fresh men in the desperate energy of a charge ; and that was what the movement seemed to mean.
It was not long that the men of the Regiment stood and watched the maneuvering of the foe. Gen. Stanley coming upon the scene, looked through his field-glass for a moment, and then the members of his Staff went galloping back to report the situation and to form the Division in line. The skirmishers were ordered forward to a fence, some rods out in the field, and the reserves were directed to begin a line of works, using rails and logs. Notwithstanding the excessive heat and the great fatigue to which they had been subjected, the men plied themselves to the utmost to make some slight protection for the expected assault. But when about a mile distant, the Rebels also halted, and were soon equally busy in erecting a barricade of rails. Gen. Stanley and a few officers and orderlies were standing just at the verge of the timber, in plain view, when a Rebel battery limbered to the rear and began to throw their iron missiles toward them. Vor prudential reasons these horsemen soon withdrew to the
29
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shelter of the timber. A Union battery answered its opp. nent and quickly sent it to the rear. The skirmishers were directed to raise their sights and fire at the line, but the dis- tance was too great for marked results. The entire Fourth Corps was soon in line and several batteries of artillery opened upon the Rebels, the shots striking the field and tearing up the sod and dust, and occasionally seeming to pass through their ranks. It was not long before their front line moved back. in some confusion, halting in rear of what had been their second line. The skirmishers from the Regiment were at one time ordered to advance. and upon climbing the fence from behind which they had been firing, were a little startled by a volley from some Rebels who Had been lying in the field a short distance in front .- a light barricade with some clover spread over it completely hiding them from view. Their fire was returned, and for a short distance there was a lively chase.
By the time that the lines of the several Corps of Gen. Sherman's army had been so joined that a safe forward move- ment could be made, the Rebels retreated, disappearing in the timber. At four o'clock the Fourth Corps pushed ont in the centre, the Twentieth Corps at the left, and the Fourteenth Corps at the right. Farther in rear, on right and left, were Gen. McPherson's and Gen. Schofield's forces. There was heavy firing at intervals until nightfall, by which time the Union lines had reached Cassville.
In the day's advance the skirmishers did much execution. of which there was abundant evidence all along the way. An amusing incident occurred as they reached the vicinity of a large white house near the outskirts of the village, which proved to be the residence of Rev. Mr. Best. The Rebel- had been very stubborn at this point, and when the skirmish- ers finally charged and routed them, it was with such gallantry that all could not escape, and a few prisoners were taken. Still pressing on, through a garden, Corporal Gage spied ile crown of an ancient hat rising just above a large rock beyond the paling. Supposing it to be a Rebel, and willing to give him an even chance. Gage sprang behind a tree and demanded that he "come in out of the wet ;" when up jumped an old
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colored man, trembling in every nerve, and implored him ; " For de lub of de Lawd, don't shoot. I aint got nuffin agin you'uns !" The Corporal didn't shoot the colored man, but several times afterward he felt very much like shooting some of his comrades when they asked him, as they did occasionally, if he had made any captures since the one at Cassville. The house mentioned was unoccupied, and from the colored man it was learned that its owner had two sons in the Rebel army, one of them being a Colonel, who had left the house that forenoon. As soon as the lines halted. a few of the skirmish- ers returned to the abandoned honse and helped themselves to numerous articles of diet not provided by the army quarter- master. Rations had been short for a time and the articles issued were of the plainest character; but on this occasion these men had cake, jelly, honey and maple sugar. In addition to these sweets, meat, tobacco, mcal and flonr were found and used.
About one mile southeast of Cassville, on a high ridge, was the main line of works, to which Gen. Johnston's army had retired. They were carefully laid out and strongly built, but on their right, from some hills, the Federal cannon played upon them so heavily as to make their occupants very uneasy. And yet the position was a strong one. Gen. Johnston had just received a considerable reinforcement from Mississippi, while Gen. Sherman's army had been greatly weakened; a Division being sent to Rome, smaller forces left at various bridges and stations passed, and thousands giving out becanse of sickness and fatigue. On the whole the conditions for a battle were rather favorable to the Rebels, and they undoubt- edly expected to fight at that point. But Generals Johnston, Hood and Polk seem to have had some difference of opinion as to the merits of the line of works laid out and fortified by them ; and so, while the Union forces were busy fortifying their front and preparing for the expected battle. Gen. John- ston issued orders for his forces to again fall back, and at midnight they were retreating to the Allatoona hills, south of the Etowah River. The casualties upon the nineteenth were,
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Francis J. Robinson, of Company A, wounded in the neck : and John E. Evans, of Company I, wounded in the foot.
Friday, May 20, the army of Gen. Sherman was carly in line, but the "Johnnies" were gone. Gen. Sherman at once decided upon a three days' halt. The troops had been actively campaigning for two weeks, during which there had been but little opportunity for rest. With frequent night move- ments. with reveille at three o'clock on such of the morning- as that hour did not find the troops already on the move, wit !! a line of breastworks to build as often as each alternate night. with bridges and roads to repair, with heavy guard duty nightly, and marching or fighting daily. the troops were so worn as to greatly need rest. It is not to be supposed that the enemy had suffered equally from fatigue, for while most of their retreats had been at night, they had marched by direct roads and occupied lines of breastworks built for their use by plantation hands, the main part of their force having a long rest. at least in the carly part of each day following a night retreat, while their pursuers were moving up to con- front the new lines. At all events the three days of rest given the Federals at Cassville were most welcome, and the men made good use of their opportunity. The first thing with most of them was a bath : the next a thorough washing of their clothing. This done, when they had slept all they cared to they wandered through the pretty, deserted village. On going to the town one day Lieutenant-Colonel Smit !! discovered some soldiers arraved in Odd Fellows' regalia. In a moment he called the soldiers to him and quietly but firmly demanded the return of their trophies. Summoning some brothers of the craft he repaired to the lodge room. restored order and secured the return of all or nearly all of the regalia of the organization.
Near the camp of the NINETY-SIXTH was a Seminary in which was a large library. True the librarian was absent. but as a large proportion of the command was of a literary turn of mind, all formality was waived and each of those who wished read books. It was a strange spectacle to see hun- dreds of men in uniform sitting at the desks in the college.
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vach absorbed in some scientific book or in some work of fiction, or to go outside and see men similarly engaged, sitting with their backs against the mammoth shade trees, for hours together. They were hungry for just such an oppor- tunity as was here offered, and thoroughly did they improve it. There was also much visiting between the men of the various regiments in that vicinity, many of the Jo Daviess County boys taking a long tramp to Kingston to call upon acquaintances in the 12th Illinois.
Friday, Saturday and Sunday sped rapidly by. The rail- road was repaired by Saturday, and trains brought forward large amounts of rations. On Sunday four days rations were issued to each man, and twenty days rations for the army loaded upon the wagons. The soldiers knew that this meant a long march away from the railroad, and were curious as to the plans of their commander, but content and confident.
Religious services were held in many of the camps both afternoon and evening. It was a spectacle upon which no thinking man, however skeptical, could look unmored, to see the soldiers gather around the place designated for religious meetings. The attendance was often large, and embraced a few commissioned officers. Nor was it alone or mainly timid soldiers who were present, but often the most devont were those whose presence in the charge or upon the skirmish line was an inspiration. 1 soldier would lead in some stirring hymn, and soon a hundred voices, blending beautifully, would make the leafy tabernacle ring with their grand music. Prayer would be offered, sometimes in a loud tone, and again with subdued voice : some with crude imagery and weird petition for the overthrow of the enemies of the country and of righteousness : others eloquent in their very simplicity, breathing a request that the great " Father of us all " would lead the way through all the darkness of the present to the day when peace should brood above the land, and war and turmoil cease-when soldiers should be permitted to forget the camp and battle and yet remember that they were soldiers in the army of the great Immanuel, whose victories were bloodless and whose captives were the prisoners of hope.
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Scripture would be read or repeated by the leader ; a brief discourse would follow : experiences would be related, and then, as the flickering camp fires burned low and the distant bugles warned the worshipers back to camp, the grand melody of Old Hundred would go up like incense to the stars, the soldiers would separate and in a few moments quiet brood above the sleeping hosts. Who shall say they were not strengthened by these services, erndely arranged and con- ducted though they often were, or that the God of Battles did not watch above them and frame the answer to their varied petitions while they prayed, leading them, as individuals, and the Nation beneath whose banner they assembled, into a larger liberty than that of which they then conceived? Cer- tain it must be that many a weary. home-sick, heart-sick boy. took courage in such gatherings as these and went thence to the battle nerved for deeds more daring than the past had seen. and felt himself sustained by the hope and faith not elsewhere so certainly obtained. Not a few date their first strong religious convictions from those gatherings in the for- ests of Georgia, and many still cling to the Faith that sus- tained them there, where they learned to sing :
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